The Emmaus wrestling team own its final regular season tournament last weekend at the Denver Duals at Cocalico High School.

The Green Hornets earned the title with a 39-28 win over Red Lion in the championship match. Winners for Emmaus included Xayden Sallit, Marco Albanese, Jesse Scott, Lord Henry, Jake Gross, E.J. Boney, Jackson Max and Alex Issa. In the victory the Hornets won seven of the 13 matches on the mat, with one forfeit.

Max in particular continued his improvement this season, pinning Connor Rodgers in the 107 battle in 1:23. Henry had also a fine afternoon, pinning Bryson Smith in the 172-pound tilt in 1:34.

To get to the championship match, Emmaus dismissed Governor Mifflin in the semifinals 34-28, and humbled Annville-Cleona in the quarters 56-12.

Earlier in the week Emmaus struggled against traditional powerhouse Nazareth last Thursday in a 48-12 loss. Albanese realized a 10-6 decision over Jake Doone at 145, while Aiden Bayard earned a 5-3 decision over Zakary Novak and tough guy Logan Armstrong pinned Gabe Elmanzalawy at 1:59 for the Hornets’ wins.

The results were better 24 hours earlier win a solid 36-30 win over Freedom. Max pinned Tyzaire Johnson at the 4:58 mark for a 107-pound win, while teammate Bayard realized a 7-2 decision over the Pates’ John Bodnar. Sallit pinned Keenan Ray at 3:54 in the 139-pound match and Albanese was dominant in pinning Alex Salim in 2:21 at 145. Scott flexed his muscles in 9-4 decision over Ivan Bonilla at 160, while Reilly Bechtel had little trouble in pinning Sean Etheridge in one minute at 189. Gross also earned a pin with superb wrestling Jacob Hauze in 2:35 in the 215-pound battle.

A week earlier the Hornets downed Bethlehem’s other public school with an entertaining 29-26 win over Liberty. In this one coach Jim Best’s team had to overcome a 0-8 deficit and trailed throughout most of the evening. Albanese, Scott, Henry, Massimo Tranguch, Gross, Bayard and Issa were all winners.